PHCP clinician, mentor and practitioner, Lorie Fleenor serves clients in southwest VA and northeast TN. Lorie has her APF-I credential from the International Association of Professional Farriers. Along with running a hoof care business, Lorie owns Magna Vista Farm, a 500-acre cattle operation and boarding facility that offers riding and training services.

I’m an 8th generation farmer on a large Revolutionary War land grant farm in East TN. I’ve got a wonderful husband and two boys that help me run the farm. We raise and sell grass fed beef, harvest hay, and operate a large horse boarding operation where we offer training, lessons, and trail riding. It’s taken me almost 20 years to mold the farm into what I consider the perfect horse haven. We have miles of trails, big hilly pastures for the herds to roam, and we have won multiple awards for our Conservation Farming practices. I’ve been handling a rasp since I was a kid, trimming my ponies and cleaning up the big horses, but I got serious about being a professional in the industry in 2007. I studied Pete Ramey, joined the American Hoof Association, and continued my training with Ida Hammer. Then I found PHCP! Most recently, I was certified APF-I with the IAPF.

I love the emphasis on education! I love to teach almost as much as I love to learn. I’m a science nerd, so horses, hoof care, diet, and pasture management are things I really enjoy learning about. The more I know, the more I want to learn! I also love the networking and support that PHCP offers. I’ve made some great friends, and I have a group of people I can call on for help.

What are your interests besides all things hooves

My family and I love to be outdoors (we do farm, after all!). We enjoy running, hiking, mountain biking, dirt biking, shooting sports, and Scouting. My youngest son and I also enjoy playing music together! We are very active in our community and try to give back to programs like Church, Boy Scouts, 4-H and Pony Club. I also love collecting bones (it’s something I’ve done since I was a kid). I now have an extensive collection of horse bones with all kinds of interesting pathologies. I love learning from the bones I collect and harvest, especially if I know their history.

Tell us something people may not know about you

I am an avid forager! I’m out on the farm and in the woods all day, so I rarely come home without something from nature to cook for dinner or process into a helpful salve or tincture. I love hunting and eating wild mushrooms and herbs. I lead nature hikes and also teach a few badges for the Boy Scouts when I have time. I think it’s amazing how much the earth provides for us when we take care of it and are aware of what is around us. Nature is amazing!